Sensor and method for detecting predetermined chemical species in solution
First Claim
1. A quartz crystal microbalance chemical sensor comprising:
- (a) a crystal detector oscillator having a resonant frequency and capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the detector oscillator, the crystal detector oscillator having a first crystal side for directly contacting a solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the solution;
(b) a first electrode integral to the first crystal side, the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode; and
(c) a second electrode integral to the second crystal side.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A chemical sensor for measuring a change in the sensor mass relating to the interaction of a surface of the sensor with a solution comprises a crystal detector oscillator capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator. The crystal detector oscillator has a first crystal side for directly contacting the solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the solution. A first electrode is integral to the first crystal side, with the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode. A second electrode is integral to the second crystal side. The sensor may be employed to detect the concentration of predetermined species in solution by adsorbing a predetermined species-specific complementary material such as an antibody onto the active crystal sites of the first crystal side, and thereafter contacting the first crystal side with the species-containing solution. The sensor may also be used to measure the change in sensor mass relating to the degradation of a coating applied to the first crystal side thereof.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A quartz crystal microbalance chemical sensor comprising:
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(a) a crystal detector oscillator having a resonant frequency and capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the detector oscillator, the crystal detector oscillator having a first crystal side for directly contacting a solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the solution; (b) a first electrode integral to the first crystal side, the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode; and (c) a second electrode integral to the second crystal side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting the concentration of predetermined chemical species in solution, the method consisting essentially of:
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(a) providing a quartz crystal microbalance chemical sensor which comprises (i) a crystal detector oscillator having a resonant frequency and capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the detector oscillator, the crystal detector oscillator having a first crystal side for contacting the species-containing solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the species-containing solution, (ii) a first electrode integral to the first crystal side, the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode, and (iii) a second electrode integral to the second crystal side; (b) contacting the first crystal side with a solution containing a predetermined species-specific complementary material to the predetermined chemical species, wherein the species-specific complementary material is adsorbed onto the first crystal side; (c) measuring the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator after contacting with the solution containing the complementary material; (d) contacting the first crystal side with a solution containing the predetermined chemical species, thereby causing binding of the predetermined chemical species to the complementary material-adsorbed first crystal side; (e) measuring the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator after contacting the first crystal side with the species-containing solution; and (f) comparing the difference in resonant frequencies measured in steps (c) and (e) to determine the concentration of the species in the species-containing solution. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus comprising:
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a quartz crystal microbalance chemical sensor which comprises (i) a crystal detector oscillator having a resonant frequency and capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator, the crystal detector oscillator having a first crystal side for directly contacting a solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the solution, (ii) a first electrode integral to the first crystal side, the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode; and
(iii) a second electrode integral to the second crystal side; andsensor detecting means operatively coupled to the sensor for detecting the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator and providing a detector output signal representative of the crystal detector oscillator resonant frequency. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for detecting the concentration of predetermined chemical species in solution, the method consisting essentially of:
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(a) providing an apparatus which comprises a quartz crystal microbalance chemical sensor which comprises (i) a crystal detector oscillator having a resonant frequency and capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator, the crystal detector oscillator having a first crystal side for contacting the species-containing solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the species-containing solution, (ii) a first electrode integral to the first crystal side, the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining, an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode; and
(iii) a second electrode integral to the second crystal side; andsensor detecting means operatively coupled to the sensor for detecting the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator and providing a detector output signal representative of the crystal detector oscillator resonant frequency; (b) contacting the first crystal side with a solution containing a predetermined species-specific complementary material to the predetermined chemical species, wherein the species-specific complementary material is adsorbed onto the first crystal side; (c) measuring the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator after contacting with the solution containing the complementary material; (d) contacting the first crystal side with a solution containing the predetermined chemical species, thereby causing binding of the predetermined chemical species to the complementary material-adsorbed first crystal side; (e) measuring the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator after contacting the first crystal side with the species-containing solution; and (f) comparing the difference in resonant frequencies measured in steps (c) and (e) to determine the concentration of the species in the species-containing solution. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A quartz crystal microbalance chemical sensor for measuring the concentration of predetermined chemical species in solution by measuring a change in sensor mass relating to interaction of a surface of the sensor with a solution, the sensor comprising:
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(a) a crystal detector oscillator having a resonant frequency and capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the detector oscillator, the crystal detector oscillator having a first crystal side for contacting the solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the solution; (b) a first electrode integral to the first crystal side, the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode; and (c) a second electrode integral to the second crystal side, wherein the first crystal side has a coating applied thereto and a change in sensor mass relating to interaction of the coating with the predetermined chemical species is measured. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for detecting the concentration of predetermined chemical species in solution by measuring a change in sensor mass relating to interaction of a surface of the sensor with a solution, the method consisting essentially Of:
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(a) providing a quartz crystal microbalance chemical sensor which comprises (i) a crystal detector oscillator having a resonant frequency and capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the detector oscillator, the crystal detector oscillator having a first crystal side for contacting the species-containing solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the species-containing solution, (ii) a first electrode integral to the first crystal side, the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode, and (iii) a second electrode integral to the second crystal side; (b) applying a coating to the first crystal side by contacting the first crystal side with a solution containing a predetermined species-specific complementary material to the predetermined chemical species; (c) measuring the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator after contacting with the solution containing the complementary material; (d) contacting the first crystal side with a solution containing the predetermined chemical species; (e) measuring the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator after contacting the first crystal side with the species-containing solution; and (f) comparing the difference in resonant frequencies measured in steps (c) and (e) to determine the concentration of the species in the species-containing solution. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An apparatus for measuring the concentration of predetermined chemical species in solution comprising:
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a quartz crystal microbalance chemical sensor which comprises (i) a crystal detector oscillator having a resonant frequency and capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator, the crystal detector oscillator having a first crystal side for contacting a solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the solution, (ii) a first electrode integral to the first crystal side, the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode; and
(iii) a second electrode integral to the second crystal side; andsensor detecting means operatively coupled to the sensor for detecting the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator and providing a detector output signal representative of the crystal detector oscillator resonant frequency, wherein the first crystal side has a coating applied thereto, and a change in sensor mass relating to interaction of the coating with the predetermined chemical species is measured. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method for detecting the concentration of predetermined chemical species in solution by measuring a change in sensor mass relating to interaction of a surface of the sensor with a solution, the method consisting essentially of:
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(a) providing an apparatus which comprises a quartz crystal microbalance chemical sensor which comprises (i) a crystal detector oscillator having a resonant frequency and capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator, the crystal detector oscillator having a first crystal side for contacting the species-containing solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the species-containing solution, (ii) a first electrode integral to the first crystal side, the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining, an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode; and
(iii) a second electrode integral to the second crystal side; andsensor detecting means operatively coupled to the sensor for detecting the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator and providing a detector output signal representative of the crystal detector oscillator resonant frequency; (b) applying a coating to the first crystal side by contacting the first crystal side with a solution containing a predetermined species-specific complementary material to the predetermined chemical species; (c) measuring the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator after contacting with the solution containing the complementary material; (d) contacting the first crystal side with a solution containing the predetermined chemical species; (e) measuring the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator after contacting the first crystal side with the species-containing solution; and (f) comparing the difference in resonant frequencies measured in steps (c) and (e) to determine the concentration of the species in the species-containing solution. - View Dependent Claims (56)
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Specification